3k 45mpg fun car

[rwstokes]

Hi guys,

i appreciate this may be asking for the holy grail, but i think ill be doing about a 100 mile commute pretty soon, and alas i think getting 30mpg from my focus will destroy my limited pay. so my question to you all is, if i have about 3k to spend, need about 50mpg, and want something i can insure but which isnt soul destroying (read, nissan micra) thatd be swell.
i had a look at mx5s but at 30mpg might aswell stay with the focus, but that sort of fun car would be ideal

i can see myself just moving to a diesel focus, or a mondey, but would prefer a more interesting vehicle ideally

[gaz1234]

focus or mondey....

[Mr GrimNasty]

Anything with the PD130 VAG unit, Seat, VW, Skoda etc. Fabia VRS is easily in your price range now.

[VR46]

Get a motorbike. Failing that a golf tdi and then have it chipped and egr deleted.

[Matt UK]

That's a lot of miles and a lot of commuter fuel.

Cheaper to rent somewhere near work Mon-Fri?

[carinaman]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Don't these do 45MPG on a run? Just watch for the exhaust manifold catalysts.

I don't know what MPG they gave on tests, or if Evo had one on long term test?

[ED209]

I cant help with car choice but i know i could not cope with that commute.

I did 25 miles each way for 2 years and that did my head in!

[Rollcage]

You need a diesel of some sort, as what you have specified in your OP doesn't exist!

[Justayellowbadge]

I get 45 from an MGF.

It's done more than 50,000 miles in the last 12 months.

[Chimune]

had same dilema 18 months ago - went for mg zt cdti which is comfy, gets 43mpg on a roads with a heavy foot and drives very well !
you need to tweek your definition of fun.... 500 miles driving a week needs something more than just fun !

[Rollcage]

Justayellowbadge said:

I get 45 from an MGF.

It's done more than 50,000 miles in the last 12 months.

bugger, you beat me to it, having just thought that an Elise would be ideal, but out of price range!

[ED209]

Rollcage said:

ugger, you beat me to it, having just thought that an Elise would be ideal, but out of price range!

I had an mgtf years ago and i reme,ber it being suprisingly good on fuel.

It was the 1.8 135hp model and compared to the 1.6 mini cooper that followed it was basically tea total

[bigdom]

Before I moved house, was doing 150 miles a day. Bought 130tdi A4. Whilst the suspension isn't the best on B roads, fine elsewhere. Bought with 70k fsh, now 166k and going strong, nice place to sit, especially at night, the dash/console just looks right. Will happily do 50mpg+, 45 at 90ish,if traffic is slow, will do 700 to a tank.

[Justayellowbadge]

Matt UK said:

That's a lot of miles and a lot of commuter fuel.

Cheaper to rent somewhere near work Mon-Fri?

Worth thinking about, perhaps.

My fuel costs itro £750 a month excluding private use...

[EDLT]

Matt UK said:

That's a lot of miles and a lot of commuter fuel.

Cheaper to rent somewhere near work Mon-Fri?

I'd do this (or move permanently). Buying a £3k diesel means you are going to get something with a lot of miles on it, which will either run fine for years or go catastrophically wrong tomorrow with no warning. More importantly, you are going to be spending three-ish hours a day commuting. I used to do half that and it was depressing.

If you move you won't be spending so much on fuel, you can have an uneconomic car and you get far more free time.

[RyanDD]

try a m2 or mk2f polo, with some sporty mods and 6n2 GTi 1.6 16v, or 6n 1.4 16v fitted, loads of fun.

[Ki3r]

I had a 1.8 TDDi Focus, used to get around 40mpg without trying around town. Might be worth a look at.

Not that fun to drive though lol.

[R300will]

Fabia VRS? or are they too expensive? the diesel one of course

[bigdom]

EDLT said:

If you move you won't be spending so much on fuel, you can have an uneconomic car and you get far more free time.

I bought myself an uneconomic bike as a moving in present Saved 5 hrs a day commuting as well.

[rwstokes]

the moving option would be good, but its just a 1 year placement, so i can just stay at home meaning rent free living,

cheers for the suggestions guys, plenty there for me to get my teeth into,